As you could have already found out from Mondays Photo of the Week I’ve stated true bye to Switzerland (for now!) and I’ve headed off on the subsequent leg of my RTW2012 adventure.
I left Switzerland as I located it – protected in snow – and feature swopped the snowy mountains for dusty roads, winding souks and the sea. I’ve now landed in Morocco!
Back to A Favourite
I’ve lengthy been partial to Morocco given that I first got here right here in 2008 and feature ventured to North of Africa some instances looking for a few surf and solar.
And this time round my reasons aren’t anyt any one of a kind! Although I’ve spent hundreds of time withinside the ocean all yr my time in Asia changed into quite ruled via way of means of being below it – scuba diving on Phi Phi.
In truth I got here to the terrible recognition that I have not absolutely surfed given that Bali – and that changed into lower back in August!
Surprisingly aleven though I’ve coped hundreds higher than I notion I would, however it is not an difficulty as I will be completing off 2012 how I began out it – with a large each day does of nutrition sea operating as a surf coach.
This time round aleven though I’m becoming a member of the Surf Berbere crew in Taghazout in southern Morocco, a bustling coastal village that’s famed for it is pumping wintry weather swell and a fave for surfers in Europe seeking out a few hotter waves for the duration of the less warm months.
Escape From the City
Before heading to the coast aleven though I flew into Marrakech to tick but any other object off my bucket list, photographing the well-known souks and markets.
This but did not cross as easily as I’d was hoping and I were given misplaced withinside the loopy winding streets – for no much less than three hours! I sincerely notion I changed into in critical trouble!
A man from my hostel provided to expose me the course to the principle square – but paying interest isn’t one in all my robust factors and without difficulty distracted thru the lens of my digital digicam I quickly realised I absolutely had no clue a way to navigate my manner lower back to my bed!
Everyone “knew the manner” lower back to the hostel however everybody saved pointing me in one of a kind instructions or referring me to a pal who effectively owned a store and without a doubt attempted to promote me stuff.
A pleasant searching chap provided to assist me discover it on a map, but he quickly grabbed my arm and began out setting a henna layout on it, after hundreds of objections from me he nevertheless attempted to price me 30 quid for it!
In the stop I fobbed him off with about of extrade and made rapid right into a crowd of people!
After FINALLY locating a few wifi and going to the hostels homepage I were given a map, were given pointed withinside the proper course and located my manner lower back to Equity Point Hostel. Which in real truth changed into wonderful easy – and I realised I’d walked beyond the turning almost 10 instances in my misplaced haze! Typical!
And then on pinnacle of that I were given proper royally ripped off via way of means of a taxi motive force taking me to the bus station to via way of means of my price price tag to the coast!
Seems I’ve misplaced all of the bartering abilties and wariness I evolved for the duration of my time in Asia. Switzerland has ruined my backpacking sixth sense!
Salt Water Therapy
I bolted from the metropolis early withinside the morning after a notable night time of brilliant meals and sleep and made for the sea.
I changed into nevertheless a chunk on side after my Marrakech experience, however it quickly diminished away. The men at Surf Berbere had been wonderful welcoming and inside an hour of arriving I changed into in a wetsuit, board below arm and paddling out into close to ideal longboarding surf.
That first wave washed away my concerns and that they had been dissolved withinside the salty air of a Moroccan sunset.
And that first surf taught me three things. Firstly browsing is in reality the excellent manner to relax. Secondly I can nevertheless surf! But the very last lesson it taught me changed into that I’m absolutely out of shape! 2 hours withinside the waves and I changed into spent. Jelly arms, aching lower back – the works!
However chilling overlooking the sea from the surf camp, steaming mint tea in my hand and the solar sinking into the sea I felt absolutely comfy and with a beaming smile on my face.
